Bridgeton hosts historic house tour as part of 325th anniversary

View full sizeStaff photo by Cindy HepnerThe Susan and George Funkhouser home on West Commerce Street during the Bridgeton House Tour.

BRIDGETON — Both the East and West sides of the city opened their homes to area tourists for the annual Bridgeton House Tour, transporting visitors to the eras in which the homes were built and the histories they lived.

As part of the city’s 325th anniversary, the city designated 25 stops on the tour so visitors could take their time and experience the history of the city.

The river was the dividing line between both sides of the city, mostly along Commerce Street.

“We wanted to use the theme of ‘Bridgeton 325’ and focus on the quality of the businesses and homes farther than the quantity,” Sandi Huster, chairwoman of the event, told the News.

The eastern portion of the tour began at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, then followed through R.E. Shoemaker House, Robert Elmer House, Martin Estate and Olde Brearly Masonic Lodge.

Also included were history lessons of Bridgeton’s firehouse, where relics of their firehouse’s early years were on display.

“The side of the firehouse on display was built in 1898,’ said Fire Chief Gene Shelton of the part of the building closest to Commerce Street. “This is the original firehouse. The other section wasn’t built until 1975.”

One of the original firetrucks, a steam and coal engine-powered machine was also on display.

“It was our first apparatus, built in 1877,” Shelton said. “It’s now stored at the Hopewell-Stow Creek station, but we brought it out for the tour.”

“We also have a lot of firemen memorabilia,” Shelton said. “We’ve had a great turnout today. We gave a lot of tours.”

On the west side of the city, a history exhibit by Bob Crowe was held at the Nail Mill Museum, followed by the David Sheppard house, Potter’s Tavern, Jonathan Hann House, Dawson house, Fogg house, Sarah Lee house, Coyle house, Garrison house, Minch house and Whipple house.

The Off Broad Street Players caroled through both ends of the city, serenading the house tourists with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Joy to the World” and “Deck the Halls.”

Heidi Dugan, along with her husband Joe and son Matthew, made her own Victorian costume for the caroling.

“The house tour is wonderful,” Dugan said. “Sometimes people only think about the worst of Bridgeton. It’s good to see the city having and event like this to showcase their homes. There’s a lot of beauty and elegance here.”

Over on the west side, Flavia Alaya put her house, the Jonathan J. Hann home, on the tour.

“It’s a very lived-in house,” Alaya said. “It’s one of the oldest on the west side of the city.”

The Hann house was built in the 1820s, but was presumably first lived in by Hann’s widow, as Hann died in 1826.

The structure has been modified and altered several times in the past 190 years.

“It’s a simple farm house,” Alaya said. “It was built at a time when there was no West Commerce Street and the city was really booming.”

Two back-to-back Jersey sandstone fireplaces separate the living room and the den, which is Alaya’s favorite part.

“I can’t say what really sold me on the house, but if I had to pick one thing, it’s the fireplaces,” Alaya said.

As for the tour itself, Alaya said the city has been tremendously receptive.

“We initially imagined people were tapped out and didn’t expect the crowd we got,” Alaya said. “We must have seen more than 150 people just go through our home.”

Alaya said she was glad to see the city alive with people touring the homes.